Some Musings before the Season Opener

Here are some quick hits before the Wizards open their season tonight in Cleveland against the Cavs.

1) The Etan Thomas-Brendan Haywood debate has been in a full swing since the beginning of the preseason. Coach Eddie Jordan decided to name Etan his starter, and this whole ordeal has served as the undercard to the 82-game dogfight. The Poet vs. Brenda donnybrook will extend well into the season, with perhaps both players receiving an equal number of starts. Certainly minutes will be doled out evenly. Jordan has a knack for playing the guy he feels is best contributing at the moment. As a result, Etan may start, but Haywood may end up with more minutes. I, for one, am pleased that Jordan has named Etan the starter. He demonstrates more heart, passion, desire and toughness than Haywood, who often looks lost and uncaring for long stretches of the season. In terms of tonight's game, though, I think starting Haywood would have been the better tactical move because Brendan gives the Z-Train all kinds of problems. The Haywood-Thomas back-and-forth will rage on, and it will be interesting to see how the two respond -- especially Haywood.

2) A friend of mine IMed me the other day profressing his annual love for Tim Duncan. His curious man-crush aside, he also added, "Too bad (Duncan) doesn't play for the Wizards." That got me to thinking. We all like to conjure up fantasy trades in our minds. If only we could swing a deal for this guy, or for that guy. You know the routine. Express your team's (seeming) desire to sign a guy like Duncan and play the lineup scenarios out in your head. Could you imagine a starting five of Arenas, Butler and Duncan. Maybe even Jamison. Unstoppable is a word that comes to mind. Another phrase that springs instantly into the ol' mellon is pipe dream. That's what these aspirations are: pipe dreams. But hey, if not for these fantastic visions, the ESPN Trade Generator would be no fun.

3) Why is Gilbert Arenas' standing in the NBA still challenged to this day? Why aren't 29 points, six assists and two steals a game not enough to cement him as one the league's elite? That's a conundrum that is inexplicable. Talk to his teammates, coaches and various players around the league, and you'll hear them rave about Arenas' evident basketball skills. Talk to the media schlubs, and you'll get all kinds of qualified answers. "Arenas is a good ball player, but ..." "Arenas could be elite if ..." It's the same song and dance from those types. Starting tonight, Arenas can begin to put any questions about his game to rest. (Thanks to Dan Steinberg and his Sports Bog for the link to the above story.)